As razóns da norma: 'nós' e 'nosoutros, nosoutras'

Abstract

This paper looks at a prescriptive ruling which acknowledges both of the first-person-plural pronouns nós and nosoutros/-as (and likewise second-personplural vós and vosoutros/-as) as standard Galician forms with differentiated meanings, and inquires into the source facts underpinning the decision. Their treatment in the pre-Normas Galician grammatical tradition and written usage in the 19th and 20th centuries are briefly reviewed; the former assumes no semantic distinction and leans towards opting for one or the other form as standard. The main part of the artice which follows examines the pronouns' status in the spoken language in the late 20th century, based on field data, spontaneous usage in recordings and speakers' opinions. Three factors emerge as determining preference for either nós or nosoutros/as: geographical distribution, possible meaning distinctions and gender distinction. The paper concludes with a reflection on the appropriateness of the prescriptive rule of the standard language given its defining criteria.